07/07/2026
Renewal of God's relationship with His people
‘Therefore, I am now going to allure her (Israel); I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.
There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.
There she will respond as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt.’
(Hosea 2:14-15).
Israel was guilty of breaking its covenant relationship with God by thanking Baal, the god whom they believed controlled weather and thus farming, instead of thanking God (2:8).
Therefore, God had to punish her for her idolatry (2:9-13). Despite this, God did not reject the nation and instead pursued it.
God's first covenant with Israel was made in the desert at the time of exodus (Exodus 24:1-8). That is why He led the nation in the desert again (2:14).
He wooed Israel, speaking tenderly to her and seeking to re-establish the loving relationship that existed when the nation came out of Egypt. He reversed the actions He took before, giving her back the vineyards He had taken from her (2:15; 2:12).
The valley of Achor, which had previously been a place of God's wrath and of His judgement on sin (Josh 7:25-27), would become a door of hope.
Beloved, like the Israelites, many are times we become disloyal to God by letting “prosperity” diminish our love for Him or let success blind us to our need for His love.
God may discipline us, but because of His love for us, He pursues and encourages us to repent in order to restores us. As we face His discipline or face problems and trials, let us remember that He speaks to us in the desert, and not just in times of prosperity.
Our relationship with Him is restored not because of us, but first and foremost because of His grace.
Have a blessed day.
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